How life has changed in Bromley

Bromley's population increased by about 13,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 310,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Bromley increased by 4.7%, from just under 296,000 to 309,000.

The addition of just under 14,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bromley was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it London's least densely-populated borough.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bromley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bromley increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This area had the highest average age in London and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 9,300 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 6,000.

About 16.0% of people in Bromley are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Bromley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bromley

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Bromley, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.5 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 28.2% of respondents in Bromley said they had no religion, up from 17.7% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.7%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 65.8% of respondents in Bromley said they were Christian, down from 78.0% in 2001. About 2.8% said they were Muslim, up from 1.8% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Bromley increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Bromley by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bromley that rented privately increased from 8.5% to 13.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 14.0%, while the percentage of Bromley households that owned their home decreased from 75.5% to 70.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across London. As a result, this area had Greater London's third lowest proportion of privately rented homes.

Private renting in Bromley increased by 4.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bromley, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Bromley, which comprised one person, remained close to 31.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bromley which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 36.4% to 34.4%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 34.7% in 2001 to 31.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Bromley residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Bromley remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Bromley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bromley

Bromley saw London's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) in Bromley reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.9%.

Across the region, only Bexley (from 2.9% to 3.8%) and Harrow (from 2.9% to 3.7%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

During this period, Bromley went from having the 22nd-highest to the 16th-highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Bromley

In 2011, 6.0% of Bromley residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from 2.9% in 2001. The 3.1 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 10.9% to 13.3%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 84.3% of people in Bromley said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 91.6% in 2001. About 5.2% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 3.2% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.9% to 3.5%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Bromley increased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Bromley by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bromley residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.1% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72.5% in 2001. While the percentage of Bromley residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.6% to 11.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bromley decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bromley, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Bromley working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.7% to 11.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 13.2% in 2001 to 11.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Bromley decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Bromley, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Bromley

The percentage of households without children fell in Bromley, but at a slower rate than in Croydon (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Bromley).

In Bromley, the proportion of households without children decreased from 61.1% in 2001 to 59.3% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Croydon decreased from 58.6% to 54.2%.

Across London, the share of households without children decreased from 62.4% to 59.8%.

The proportion of households with children in Bromley increased from 29.1% to 30.4%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.7% to 10.3%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Bromley residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.2%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54.5% in 2001. The percentage of Bromley residents that were self-employed increased from 10.1% to 12.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.4% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Bromley increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Bromley, London and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Bromley that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in two (48.5%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 51.7% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Bromley increased from 30.1% to 33.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 10.3% in 2001 to 10.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 10.6% to 11.6%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

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